Kin question officer's driving

Woman struck by patrol car as she crossed the street.

Woman struck by patrol car as she crossed the street.

January 03, 2009

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- Relatives and friends of a 20-year-old woman struck and killed by a police car as she crossed a street say they don't believe the officer was driving safely. The Indianapolis officer has been placed on administrative duty as the department investigates the Wednesday night accident that killed Amber Marie Raines, officials said. Raines was crossing a four-lane street on the city's south side with some friends on her way to a New Year's Eve party when she was struck about 9 p.m. Officer Erin Ringham, who has been on the police force about a year, was on her way to assist at a burglary call and did not have her squad car's emergency lights or siren activated, police said. Ringham told investigators that Raines walked in front of her car and that she attempted to swerve, but could not avoid hitting the woman. Amberlina Howson said she was part of the group crossing the street with Raines when the police car sped up and struck her. "The cop got out and was like, 'Didn't you see me driving?' and I said, 'Don't you see my friend laying there dead?'" Howson said. Officer Christopher Wilburn, a department spokesman, said it would be up to a crash investigation team to determine whether Ringham violated any laws or department policies. "Based on the report, (the accident) seemed to be unavoidable. The group of pedestrians came out of nowhere," Wilburn said. Raines was the mother of a 6-month-old daughter and an 18-month-old son, her family said. The woman's aunt, Diana Raines, questioned how the officer was driving. "Why aren't the (emergency) lights on so people on the street can see them coming?" she said. "Now my 20-year-old niece is gone."